Once you have made the choice to sell your home, do not just assume it’s ready to be put on the real estate market. The first thing you need to do is take a step back and look at your house from a buyer’s point of view. Ask yourself if the house is looking the best it absolutely can be. Ask yourself what changes need to be made before it goes to the market. Let’s admit that you do want the best dollar value for your house.

Even if you think your house is in decent condition, you still need to look for anything – even the small things- that could use repairs or renovations. You have to remember that a potential buyer will can notice anything. The smallest flaw could stop someone from making an offer on your house. First impressions are vital and renovations that are well planned out will help increase the selling price of your house.

A place to start is painting any room that is looking a little dull. A fresh coat of paint can really bring any room to life. Rooms like typically need makeovers are kitchens and washrooms. Consider new flooring as well. This is all about curb appeal.

De-cluttering is also recommended. By simply removing unneeded items will make your house seem much bigger. Some things you need to ask yourself before you start to de-clutter are: Do I really need this stuff? Do I have duplicates of any of these items? Are these items useful? Are they up-of-date?

Some other key tips for getting your house ready for the market include are taking your pets away from the house during potential buyer showings and make sure your attic, basement and garage are clutter free, just like any other room in your house.

If you are looking to sell your house in the Brampton area, feel free to call me at 905-456-1000 ext. 3411 or email me at info@sandykennedy.com.

Babe Ruth is one of the most famous names in baseball history – in sports history! According to ESPN, he is known as the second best athlete of the 20th century in North America (Michael Jordan takes the top spot). If you have never heard of Babe Ruth, here is a brief history lesson for you…

In the early 1900s, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. was an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball for 22 seasons. In 1927, he had 60 homeruns and a batting average of 0.356 (9th best). During his time, he was the king of baseball! But what many people don’t know is that Babe Ruth had 89 strikeouts that year and in his career total, he had a stunning 1330 strikeouts!

1330 strikeouts! That’s incredible! That’s one of the highest numbers in strikeouts in baseball history! Where am I going with this? Babe Ruth kept striking out but he kept on swinging the bat. He didn’t give up!

In the business of real estate (or in any career or life in general), don’t be afraid to strike out! I suggest that good real estate agents strike out all the time! We over price a property, we under price it, we pull too much commission, we don’t pull enough commission, etc etc. We make mistakes, sure, and yes, we get down on ourselves for those mistakes. As a real estate agent in Brampton, Ontario for 26 years now, I have struck out many times. I have fallen flat on my face, but every time it happens, I pick myself up and I keep on swinging. If you want to truly succeed in your career and in your life, don’t be afraid to strike out. Keep on swinging as I promise you that will hit that homerun! Don’t ever stop trying!

Earlier this week, I gave a keynote speech at the 2015 RE/MAX JumpStart in Mississauga, Ontario. Here is part of my speech about striking out in a real estate career.